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Natchez June 5th 1853
My dear wife
You will be glad to learn that I am this far on my way northward. This is a few days later than ever I have been caught in the climate & I think the weather is a little hotter than ever I have experienced. I have the consolation to think however that I am through all my hard work & intend to lose no time in making for a colder region The people are leaving by fifties with their families that they may enjoy the pure atmosphere of the north, leaving their plantations in charge of overseers who crack up the darkies to make cotton to get money that the master may have a plenty to spend at Saratoga and elsewhere, with all their prejudice they cannot help travelling north. I hope it is now your turn to feel that the chilling blasts of the northern winter are over and for a few months at least you have the advantage of the residents in the sunny south could you just stand for one hour under this southern sun you would be happy to escape to the hills of V.t. I confess for myself I neither like one or the other extreme for a permanent residence but prefer the north to the south, for I confess aside from climate I am more and more disgusted with the institution of slavery & there appears little chance for it ever to cease. The price of negroes has doubled since the annexation of Texas. I have seen thousands of good field hands as they are termed sold for
[margin:]
In My last from N O I sent you a check for $300. I now send you sundry duplicate checks the originals of which I have except two which you will find written on. there is about $1500. more to come from Mygatt and there is about $1500 in twice drafts to be paid by individuals in N.O. & Mobile these are in the hands of L. F. Town N.O. & S. W. Allen of Mobile for collection when due.

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Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

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Transcript

Natchez June 5th 1853
My dear wife
You will be glad to learn that I am this far on my way northward. This is a few days later than ever I have been caught in the climate & I think the weather is a little hotter than ever I have experienced. I have the consolation to think however that I am through all my hard work & intend to lose no time in making for a colder region The people are leaving by fifties with their families that they may enjoy the pure atmosphere of the north, leaving their plantations in charge of overseers who crack up the darkies to make cotton to get money that the master may have a plenty to spend at Saratoga and elsewhere, with all their prejudice they cannot help travelling north. I hope it is now your turn to feel that the chilling blasts of the northern winter are over and for a few months at least you have the advantage of the residents in the sunny south could you just stand for one hour under this southern sun you would be happy to escape to the hills of V.t. I confess for myself I neither like one or the other extreme for a permanent residence but prefer the north to the south, for I confess aside from climate I am more and more disgusted with the institution of slavery & there appears little chance for it ever to cease. The price of negroes has doubled since the annexation of Texas. I have seen thousands of good field hands as they are termed sold for
[margin:]
In My last from N O I sent you a check for $300. I now send you sundry duplicate checks the originals of which I have except two which you will find written on. there is about $1500. more to come from Mygatt and there is about $1500 in twice drafts to be paid by individuals in N.O. & Mobile these are in the hands of L. F. Town N.O. & S. W. Allen of Mobile for collection when due.